Tragic Collision Near Yellowstone: Seven Lives Lost in Bus Accident

A collision involving a tour bus and a truck near Yellowstone National Park has resulted in seven fatalities and multiple injuries.

A tragic accident on a highway leading to Yellowstone National Park occurred on Thursday evening, claiming the lives of seven individuals and injuring eight more. The collision, which happened at approximately 19:15 local time (02:15 GMT), involved a Chevrolet pickup truck and a van filled with 14 tourists, according to state police reports. Both vehicles erupted into flames upon impact. Sadly, the driver of the pickup and six van passengers were pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. Witness accounts indicate that both vehicles caught fire, with flames and smoke visible from a distance. Local resident Roger Merrill, who witnessed the incident, described the scene as chaotic, with bystanders attempting to assist survivors while flames engulfed the vehicles.

“This highway can be perilous since it serves as the primary route to the entrance of Yellowstone National Park,” Merrill noted, highlighting the road's high traffic, especially during peak tourist season. The highway remained closed for seven hours as emergency services worked to tend to the injured and clear the wreckage, located approximately 16 miles from the entrance to the national park.

The local coroner's office has stated that they will release the names of the deceased once family members have been informed of the tragedy. Yellowstone, recognized as the United States' oldest national park, spans nearly 3,500 square miles across Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana and attracts close to four million visitors annually, particularly from May to September, according to the National Park Service.